Typewriter for braille dots



I Och 1970 MASAHARU WATARI 3,534,846

TYPEWRITER FOR BRAILLE DOTS Filed Dec. 11, 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. MA SAHARU WATARI ATTORNEY Oct. 20, 1970 MASAHARU WATARH3,534,345

TYPEWRITER FOR BRAILLE DOTS Filed Dec. 11, 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 H HIINVENIUR. MASAHARU WATARI ATTORNEY Oct. 20, 1970 MASAHARU WATARH TYPEWRITER FOR BRAILLE DOTS Filed Dec. 11, 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 lllMASAHARU WATARI ATTORNEY 1970 MASAHARU WATARI 3,534,846

TYPEWRITER FOR BRAILLE DOTS 8 Sheets$heet 4 Filed Dec. 11, 1967 mm @mwm. Nb w INVENTOR. MASA HARu NA TAR! ATTORNEY 1970 IMASAHARU WATARI3,534,846

TYPEWRITER FOR BRAILLE DOTS Filed Dec. 11, 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY NASAHARU wATARl FIG. 5

ATTORNEY Oct. 20, 1970 MASAHARU WATARI 3,534,846

TYPEWRITER FOR BRAILLE DOTS 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Dec. 11, 1967 .=wol mo m:zt zo=zmu a vzumnwxwwiNzam mm m QE IN\ 'E.'\'T( I12. MASAHARU WATARIBY WAZ ATTORNEY Oct. 20, 1910 Filed Dec. 11, 1967 MASAHARU WATARI3,534,846

TYPEWRI'I'ER FOR BRAILLE DOTS 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 LWENTQR. MASAHARU WATAR:

ATTORNEY United States Patent TYPEWRITER FOR BRAILLE DOTS MasaharuWatari, 7-14 Tsuda-Hamano-cho. Tokushima-shi, Tokushima-ken, Japan FiledDec. 11, 1967, Ser. No. 689,386 Claims priority, application Japan, Dec.10, 1966, 41/ 81,120 Int. Cl. B41 3/32 US. Cl. 197--6.1 6 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Braille dot character typewriter comprisingsix pin elements supported freely on a typing base for extensiontherefrom and retraction therein to respond to recesses on the typeheads, and a transmission mechanism connected with said pin elements andthe keys controlling the type heads, wherein during typing Operation ofthe type bars, code bars are operated so that only pins corresponding tothe recesses on the type head, being brought into typing position, aredisposed in positions projecting from the typing base while the otherpins are retracted in the typing base before the typing of the Braillecharacter, so that typewritten characters on a medium between the pinelements and type heads are finished more finely.

This invention relates to a typewriter for Braille dots.

Typewriters for Braille dots have hitherto been known in the art, asindicated by US. Pat. No. 3,032,164. Such typewriters have a pluralityof type bars operable by pushing type keys; a plurality of type headsrespectively fixed on one end of the said type bars having one or morerecesses formed therein correspondingly arranged in the form of Brailledots or characters in opposite left and righthand columns; a typing baseprovided at the typing position of said type head; and six pin elementsconnected in the typing base, some of which are always held in aposition projecting from the typing base by spring means, wherein duringtyping of the type bars, the Braille dots are typed on and impressed inthe paper provided in front of the typing base by cooperation of therecesses in the type heads and the six pin elements correspondingtherewith.

In such typewriters, six pin elements are always held in a positionprojecting from the typing base and the pins which do not havecorresponding recesses in the type heads during typing are pressedforcibly into the typing base by the flat part of the type head,whereupon the tip ends of the pins which do not have correspondingrecesses leave pin traces or small impressions on the back side of thepaper, said traces also appearing on the front surface of the paper.Therefore, the paper has small pin impressions or traces left beside themore prominent Braille dots and this causes one to feel an extremelyunclean impression. Furthermore, when a blind person reads the paper,the small pin traces give him an uncomfortable, uncertain and confusingfeeling, and often results in misreading. In addition, such traces oftenappear more distinctly in thin papers so that satisfactory typing of theBraille dots cannot be effected.

An object of this invention is therefore to provide an excellenttypewriter for Braille dots which comprises simple code bars for removalof such disadvantages and the typewriter characters may be finished morefinely by makice ing the pins which do not correspond to the recesses onthe type heads during the typing disappear instantly before typewriting.

Another object of this invention is to provide a high speed power drivetypewriter for Braille dots which is easy for communication from theblind to the blind or to the non-blind, or from the non-blind to theblind, and which provides a quite simple and convenient way for thenon-blind to learn Braille dot characters.

Still other objects of this invention will be more fully understood fromthe following description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a typewriter for Braille dots embodying thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the embodiment taken on aplane along the line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the typewriter for Braille dotsin FIG. 2, actuated to an operating I position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged back elevational view of the typewriter showingthe essential parts on the back face of the embodiment with the rearcover and carriage of the typewriter being removed for clarity;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the printing part of the typewriterfor Braille dots according to the invention in which part of the paperused is partly broken away;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of an example of a type head;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view taken on a horizontalplane along the line 77 of FIG.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged back view of a fragmentary portion of FIG. 4,showing the rear printing part of the typewriter;

FIG. '9 is a schematic diagram of a code bar used in the typewriter forBraille dots according to this invention; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a middle bar selectively operatedby the code bar of FIG. 9.

One exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings. TheBraille dots typewriter of this embodiment can type the lettersconsisting of six dots. Explaining the method diagrammatically, a typingbase is provided which retains six pin elements projecting therefrom andarranged in two rows of three pins each in the longitudinal direction ofthe base. The type bars, which are plural in number, are provided withtype heads which have one or more recesses formed therein, correspondingto the left and right columns and opposite sides of Braille characterdots in appearance. Further, the paper is positioned in front of thetyping base. If the type bar is operated for typing in some condition,the recesses on the type heads and the pins corresponding theretocooperate, and register and type or impress the dots on the paper.

While the Braille dots typewriter of this invention is adapted to typeBraille dots it can additionally simultaneously type the letters,figures, or marks corresponding to such dots. In a schematic diagram ofthis method, the type head is shown to have a recess for a Braille dotand also to have a type of a letter, figure, or mark corresponding tothe dot. In this Braille dots typewriter, a rubber plate is fitted tothe typing base and placed at a typing position of the type to serve asa platen, so the type may be typewritten by the same method as inordinary typewriters. With this arrangement it is possible, bydisplacing the position of the rubber plate on the typing point, to typeonly Braille dots.

Furthermore, the Braille dots typewriter in this embodiment is of thecharacter having a power drive means and the typing operation of thetype bars is carried out by a snatch roll for driving the type bar andthe typewriter is connected operationally to a motor through adequatetransmission mechanism.

The inventiton will now be more fully described with reference to theillustrated exemplary embodiment in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, is a typewriter base, on the left and right sides ofwhich are provided the vertical side frames 11, 12. The upper parts ofboth side frames are connected with a plurality of transversecrosspieces 13, '14, 15, 16. A rear vertical cover 17 is connected atthe rear end of the base 10 and side vertical covers 18, 19 are fixed tothe left and right sides of the base. An upper cover 20 is provided soas to partly envelope the said base 10. A motor 21 is connected on therear and upper face of the base 10, the electric supply to which iscontrolled by a switch 22 on one side cover 19. 23 designates a snatchroll for driving the type bar, which is rotatably supported by said sideframes 11, 12 so as to be disposed in the transverse direction above themiddle part of the base 10, operatively connected with the motor 21 byadequate transmission mechanism to be capable of always revolving in theclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2. A plural number of teeth 23a,extending in the axial direction, are formed on the periphery of snatchroll 23. A plurality of key levers 24, the rear ends of which arepivotally connected to transverse crosspiece 13 by a support pin 25, arerespectively fitted with keys 26 on the front ends thereof. An arm 24a,projecting downwardly and slightly rearwardly, is formed below themedial portion of each key lever 24.

Between said plurality of key levers 24 and the later describedplurality of type bars 47 operational connection mechanism isrespectively connected, the construction of which is illustrated in moredetail in FIGS. 2 and 3, disclosing a progressing single typing action.

The medial portion of the sub lever 27, corresponding to said key lever24, is pivotally connected to the transverse crosspiece 13 by a supportpin 28. Spring 30 connected between the lower end of sub-lever 27 andslot plate 29, fixed to the crosspiece 13, rotatably biases sublever 27in the counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2. Further, the frontpart of sub-lever 27 is in contact with the arm 24a of key lever 24,which lever is ordinarily retained at the initial position as shown inFIG. 2, by the bottom of the slot plate 29. A hook operating lever 31corresponding to the sub-lever 27, is pivotally connected at its medialportion by pivot pin 32 to the upper part of sub-lever 27. A spring 33is connected between the front end of hook operating lever 31 and theupper end of sub-lever 27 which operates to forcibly urge hook operatinglever 31 in the counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2. Further,the hook operating lever 31 is formed with a through hole 34 in which apin 35 is located which projects from the sublever 27. Therefore,engagement of the through hole 34 and pin 35 apparently limits therevolvable movement in the clockwise and counter-clockwise direction ofthe hook operating lever 31. 36 designates an L-shaped bell crank, themiddle portion of which is rotatably pivoted on crosspiece 14 by supportpin 37 and a long slot 38 is formed in the front portion thereof. Inthis long slot 38 a pivot pin 39 is engaged for sliding movement in thelongitudinal direction of the slot, and the pivot pin 39 is rotatablypivotally connected to an engaging book 40 at the middle portionthereof. The lower end of the engaging hook 40 extends to the front ofthe snatch roll 23 and is positioned for engagement with the teeth 23aof the snatch roll. A stepped portion 40a at the upper end of engaginghook 40 is ordinarily engaged by the stepped portion 31a on the rear endof the hook operating lever 31. Reference numeral 41 designates anoperating member for operating a later described code bar 91. The rearend of operating member 41 is rotatably supported on the periphery of afulcrum 42 formed on the crosspiece 15, and the front end of the memberextends forwardly above the snatch roll 23 and supports the pivot pin 39between the engaging hook 40 and the bell crank 36. A spring 43 is alsoconnected between operating member 41 and crosspiece 15, whereby theoperating member 41 is ordinarily raised to an upper position by actionof the spring 43, and when the bell crank 36 revolves, it revolves inthe clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 2, around the fulcrum 42.Further, a spring 44 is connected between the front end of operatingmember 41 and the engaging hook 40. The spring 44 forcibly biases theengaging hook 40 in the counterclockwise direction (FIG. 2), whileordinarily retaining the lower end of the engaging hook 40 in a restposition (FIG. 2) spaced from the teeth 23a of snatch roll 23. A throughhole 45, almost in the middle of engaging hook 40 engages a pin 46,projecting from the operating member 41. Accordingly, by engagement ofthe through hole 45 and the pin 46, rotation of the engaging hook 40 inthe clockwise and counterclockwise directions about the pivot pin 39 isvery much limited.

A plurality of type bars are represented at 47 corresponding to the keys26. The lower portions of the type bars 47 are rotatably supported bythe support pin 49 respectively in the slots 48a of a type bar segment48 fixed between the side frames 11, 12. Links 50 are respectivelyprovided between One end of the type bars and the bell cranks 36 andthrough described operating connection mechanism are operativelyconnected to the key levers 24. A type head 51 is respectively fixed onthe other end of each key bar 47, and on each type head 51 a recess 52or a plurality of such recesses are provided in a symmetrical shapecorresponding to a Braille dots character and a type character 53corresponding thereto is provided beneath the dots. FIG. 6 shows as anexample a type head 51, a type letter P, and a series of recesses 52corresponding respectively thereto, for forming the correspondingBraille dot character.

Spring 54 respectively connected between bell crank 36 and crosspiece15, normally urges bell crank 36 to revolve in the counterclockwisedirection as seen in FIG. 2, and the type bar 47 is ordinarily retainedat a rest position on the type bar rest 55 provided between the sideframes 11, 12. On the other hand, when the key lever 24 revolves bypushing down on key 26, the engaging hook 40 revolves in the clockwisedirection, as seen in FIG. 2, around pivot pin 39 and engages with oneof the teeth 23a of the snatch roll 23. In accordance with thisoperation, rotation of the snatch roll 23 revolves bell crank 36 againstthe action of spring 54 in the clockwise direction (FIG. 2) and the typebar 47 is rotated around to the typing position as shown in FIG. 3,where upon engaging hook 40 revolves around support pin 37 with therotation of snatch roll 23. Engaging hook 40, however, is released fromthe teeth 23a of the snatch roll 23 when it engages the screw 56 on thetable or base 10. The screw 56 of each hook can be adjusted in theforward and rearward directions in order to control the disengagementmovement of each engaging hook 40 from the teeth 23a of the snatch roll23.

The typing part for typing Braille dots and letters by typing of saidtype bar 47 will now be described particularly with reference to FIGS.4, 5, 7 and 8.

In the drawings, 57 is a typing base, the front shape of which is nearlyU-shaped and which is slidably movable in the longitudinal direction inslot 58 in crosspiece 16. The typing base is adjusted to move slidablyfrom its position of accommodation to the position of use as shown inFIG. 4. The crosspiece 16 is fixed with a plate spring 61, the free endof which will press the back surface of the typing base and obstructundesired sliding of the typing base. A pin support plate 62 is screwedat 63 to the front of the typing base 57, and has six holes 64- formedtherethrough. A box 65 is screwed at 66 on the back of the pin supportplate 62, and is accommodated in an opening 67 formed in the typing base57. Six pin elements 68, cooperating with the recesses 52 of the typehead 51, are inserted in through holes 64 of pin support plate 62 fromone side of box 65, for movement from positions projecting from andretracted beneath pin support plate 62. Described as shown in FIGS. and9, but marked in FIG. 8, the six pin elements are designated as 68a,68b, 680, in the left row from top to bottom and as 68d, 68e, 687 in theright row from top to bottom. The positions of the pins 68 are alsoshown diagrammatically in FIG. 9. A rubber plate 69 is connected infront of the pin support plate 62 below the pins 68 and is theequivalent of a platen. Rubber plate 69 is slidably in a longitudinalslot 70 formed in pin support plate 62. When simultaneously typingBraille dots and the equivalent letters, the rubber plate '69 ispositioned at the typing position of the type character 53, while, whentyping only Braille dots, the rubber plate 69 is slidably moved to aposition out .of the typing position of the type characters 53 andretained in that position. Rubber plate 69 has a handle 71 projecting toone end of typing base 57 and is adapted to be slidably moved bymovement of this handle 71.

Having thus described the typing portion, we shall now describe thetransmission mechanism provided between the pins 68 and the laterdescribed code bars 91 for moving the six pin elements 68 to retractedpositions in response to the recesses 52 of the type head 51.

Reference numeral 72 designates six pin operating levers respectivelycorresponding to the six pins 68. The middle portions of the pinoperating levers 72a, 72b, 720, corresponding to the pins 68a, 68b, 686,are pivoted above one another on a shaft 73 in box 65 and the middleportion of pin operating levers 72d, 72e, 72f, corresponding to the pins680], 68e, 68 are pivoted above one another on another shaft 74 in box65. As shown in FIG. 7, the upper ends of the operating levers 72 arerespectively in contact with the rear ends of the six pins 68. A spring75 is connected between the rear end of each lever 72 and the box 65, toforcibly urge each pin operating lever into contact with the six pins tohold them in positions projecting from the upper surface of pin supportplate 62. Three sub-levers 76d, 76c, 76 respectively corresponding toand engaging the three pin operating levers 72d, 722, 72 are pivoted onshaft 77 in box 65. Wire 78a, 78b, 78c, 78d, 78e, 787 are respectivelyconnected at the end thereof with the rear ends of pin operating levers72a, 72b, 72c and with the rear ends of sub-levers 76d, 76a, 76 Bydrawing the wires 78a, 78b, 780 to the right in FIG. 7, the pinoperating levers 72a, 72b, 720 respectively connected thereto arepivoted in the counterclockwise direction about shaft 73 and against theaction of springs 75, while by drawing the wires 78d, 78e, 78 to theright in FIG. 7, the sub levers 76d, 76c, 76 respectively connectedthereto are pivoted in the counterclockwise direction about shaft 77.The pin operating levers 72d, 72e, 72; corresponding to these sub-levers76 are pivoted thereby in the clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 7,about the shaft 74 and against the action of springs 75. If a pinoperating lever 72 pivots or rotates against the action of its spring75, the pin 68, which has been pressed in a position projecting fromsupport plate 62 is retracted beneath the surface of the pin supportplate by gravity action. According to this embodiment, pin 68 and thepin operating lever 72 are merely in contact engagement, and if the pin68 is released from the upward biasing force of the pin operating lever72, it immediately slides downwardly in the inclined through hole 64 byaction of gravity into the pin support plate 62. It may of course bepossible to employ other methods for attaining the same result, such asby directly connecting the pin 68 and the pin operating lever 72 bysuitable connection means to force the pin 68 to plunge into pin supportplate 62 by rotation of the pin operating lever 72. In FIG. 4, sixlevers 79 re spectively corresponding to pin operating levers 72a, 72b72c and sub-levers 76d, 76e, 76], are shown rotatably pivoted at theirmid-portions respectively on the shafts 80 or 81 on the side end oftyping base 57, with the upper ends of the levers 79 respectivelyconnected to the opposite ends of the wires 78. Three of the levers 79are pivoted on the shaft 80, one above the other, and are connected inthe order of sequence as viewed from the front of the machine to theother ends of the wires 78a 78b, 780. The other three levers 79 arepivoted on shaft 81, one above the other, and are connected in the orderof sequence as viewed from the front to the other ends of the wires 78d,78e, 78 Six L-shape levers 82 corresponding to the levers 79 arerotatably pivoted at their midportions, in two groups of three each, onebehind the other, on shafts 83 or 84 supported on crosspiece 16. Theupper ends of these L-shaped levers 82 and the lower ends of the levers79 are connected by individual connection means consisting of a chain 85and a wire 86. The three L-saped levers 82a, 82b, 82c pivoted on shaft83 are connected in the order as viewed from the front of FIG. 4, to therespective levers 79 pivoted on shaft 80, and the L-shaped levers 82d,82c, 82 pivoted on shaft 84 are connected in the same order to therespective levers '79 pivoted on shaft 81. Six middle levers 87 arespaced at some distance in the longitudinal direction, above the typingbase 10 (FIG. 4) from the corresponding L-shaped levers 82, and as shownin FIG. 2 and 3, these are respectively rotatably pivoted on shaft 88supported by side frames 11, 12 adjacent the front ends thereof. Aspring 89 is connected between each middle lever 87 and crosspiece 15which acts to revolve each middle lever 87 in the clockwise direction,as shown in FIG. 2, around the shaft 88. A transmission spring 90 isconnected between the rear end of each middle lever 87 and the lower endof the corresponding L-shaped lever 82. If said middle levers 87 aredesignated 87a, 87b, 87c, 87d, 87e, 877, as shown in FIG. 4, they arerespectively connected in this order of sequence to the correspondingshaped levers 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d, 82e, 821, and the middle levers 87a,87b, 87c, 87d, 87s, 87 are then connected in the order of sequence tothe pin operating levers 72a, 73b, 72c, and sub-levers 76d, 76e, 76respectively. Accordingly, the middle levers 87a, 87b, 87c, 87d, 87e,87f correspond in the order of sequence to the pins 68a, 68b, 68c, 68d,'68e, 68f. It may therefore be understood from the above descriptionthat if one middle lever 87a is actuated, one pin 68a will retract intothe pin support plate 62.

The foregoing provides a description of the construction of thetransmission mechanism. An explanation will now be given concerning thecode bar mechanism for selectively operating the above described sixpins 68, particularly with reference to FIGS, 2, 4, 9 and 10.

Code bars 91 are arranged with only a slight spacing below the pluralityof operating members 41, and are arranged transverse of the respectivemiddle levers 87. Arms are provided on both ends of the code bar 91having a curved shape and extending at right angles to the bar. Botharms of each code bar are rotatably pivoted respectively on shaft 88(FIG. 4) and the six code bars 91 are designated 91a, 91b, 91c, 91a,91e, 91 as shown in FIG. 2. The middle levers 87 are located below eachof the code bars 91. As shown in FIG. 10; longitudinal notches 92 areprovided on the upper edges of the middle levers 87, and projections 93are provided in the notches, each corresponding to a code bar 91 at itscrossing position with the respective levers 87. The lower ends of codebars 91a, 91b, 91c, 91d, 91e, 91f engage with the projections 93 of themiddle levers 87a, 87b, 87c, 87d, 87e, 87 in the order of sequence.Therefore, if one code bar 91a is pushed down, only the middle lever 87awill be pushed down and the other middle levers 87b, 87c, 87d, 87e, 87fwill be held in their rest positions; so that it is apparent that if thecode bars 91a, 91b, 91c, 91d, 91e, 91 are operated in sequence, the pins68a, 68b, 68c, 68d, 68c, 68 will retract into the pin support plate 62in the same order of sequence through operation of each mid dle leverand the transmission mechanism. An operating member 41 is connectedabove the code bar 91 in transverse relation therewith. As previouslydescribed, the operating member 41 revolves about the fulcrum 42 in theclockwise direction (FIG. 2) upon operating the type bar 47. FIG. 9diagrammatically shows the six code bars 91. Projections 94 and valleys95 are respectively formed on the upper edges of each code bar 91. Inthe figure, thin vertical lines crosing each code bar 91 show anarrangement of operating members 41 Which are operative when the key 26corresponding to the letters, figures, or marks shown thereabove arepushed down. The six dots shown on the side of code bars 91 representthe six pin elements 68. Among these dots, the one which is particularlyin black represents the position of the pin which is retracted into thepin support plate 62 by operation of the corresponding code bar 91. Ifthe code bar 91 below one operating member 41 has a projection 94, thatcode bar 91 is pushed down by downward movement of the operating member41 and the pin 68 connected thereto retracts into the pin support plate62. If the code bar 91 corresponding to the said operating member 41 hasa valley 95 beneath the member, the code bar 91 is retained at a restposition despite the downward movement of the operating member 41 andthe pin 68 connected thereto remains in a position projecting from theupper surface of the pin support plate 62. By combinations of theseprojections 94 and valleys 95 on the six code bars 91, the pins 68 inthe left and right columns and in both columns can be selectivelyoperated in response to the shape of the Braille dots characters. Incase, as for example, a letter P and its dots shown in FIG. 6 are typed,the pins 68e, 68f will retract into the pin support plate 62 since thesedo not have corresponding recesses 52 on the type head 51. This isbecause the code bars 91:2 and 91f related to the pins 68e and 68] haveprojections formed thereon beneath the operating member 41 of the letterP, as shown in FIG. 9, and the other code bars 91a, 91b, 91c, 91drelated to the pins 68a, 68b, 68c, 68d have valleys 95 formed thereon inthis position. Accordingly, upon typing the type bar 47, only the codebars 91c and 91] are pushed down by the downward movement of theoperating member 41 corresponding to P, and the pins 68e and 68fconnected thereto retract into the pin support plate 62.

A brief description will now be added on a carriage part provided in therear part of the above described printing part.

Carriage 96, slidably connected in guide 97 on crosspiece 16, is adaptedto proceed in the direction of type feeding by means of ordinaryescapement mechanism (not shown), when a key 26 or space bar 98 ispushed down. The carriage 96 has a paper feeding mechanism for feedingpaper 99 into the typewriter.

The carriage 96 has a rotatably supported carriage shaft 101 with knobs100 on both ends thereof. The carriage shaft 101 has a gear wheel 102fixed thereto, which has two wheels 103, 104 provided in the upper andlower parts of the carriage in engagement therewith. The two wheels 103,104 are respectively engaged with pinions (not shown) connected on theupper and lower roller shafts 105, 106. Each of the roller shafts 105,106 has the rubber rollers 107, 108 respectively fixed thereon, which inturn are disposed in pressed rolling contact with rollers 109, .110respectively. The paper 99 passes through the lower pair of rollers 108and 110 and is fed to the front of the pin support plate 62 from thetyping base 57, and from the front of 62 is fed back through a pair ofupper rollers 107 and 109. Therefore, if the carriage shaft 101 isrevolved by knob in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2, therotation of the carriage shaft 101 is transmitted to the upper and lowerroller shafts 105, 106 through the upper and lower gear wheels .103, 104and said roller shafts 105, 106 revolve in the counterclockwisedirection as seen in FIG. 2. As a consequence, the upper and lowerrollers 109, revolve with the rollers 107, 108 corresponding therewithand the paper is fed as described above. The carriage 96 and the typingbase 57 also have guide plates 111, 112 and 113 rigidly fixed thereto toguide the feed of the paper 99.

The following is a description of the operation of this invention withthe construction mentioned above and with reference to the embodimentillustrated in the drawrngs.

FIG. 2 shows a stationary condition of the Braille dots typewriter ofthis embodiment. In this stationary condition, the switch 22 is operatedto energize motor 2.1, which in turn actuates the snatch roll 23 torevolve it in the clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2. Thereafter, aselected key 26 may be pushed down and then the key lever 24 willrevolve in the clockwise direction around support pin 25 and the arm 24aof the key lever 24 will push the middle portion of sub-lever 27rearwardly. By pushing this middle portion, the sub-lever 27 revolves inthe clockwise direction around the support pin 28 against therestraining action of spring 30. Rotation of sub-lever 27 causes hookoperating lever 31 to move forward, and the engaging hook 40 engagedwith the stepped portion 31a of hook operating lever 31 revolves againstthe biasing action of spring 44 in the clockwise direction around thepivot pin 39. By this rotation, the lower end of engaging hook 40 mesheswith the rotating teeth 23a of snatch roll 23. The rotation of snatchroll 23 causes engaging hook 40 to move downwardly into contact with thescrew 56, which causes the lower end of the engaging hook to separatefrom the teeth 23a of snatch roll 23. The downward movement of engaginghook 40 is transmitted to bell crank 36 through the pivot pin 39 so thatthe bell crank 36, in resisting the action of spring 54, pivots aroundsupport pin 37 in the clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 2.Accordingly, the revolving action of the bell crank 36 is imparted tothe type bar 47 through the link 50, causing the type bar to rotatearound support pin 49 toward the typing position of FIG. 3 from thestationary position of FIG. 2.

The downward movement of engaging hook 40, rotates operating member 41in the clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2 about the fulcrum 42,against the resisting action of spring 43. Rotation of operating member41 selectively actuates the six code bars 91, and as described makes aselected pin or pins 68 retract into the pin support plate 62.Thereafter, the type bar 47 rotates further counterclockwise by inertiafrom the force provided from the snatch roll 23 and the type head 51strikes the paper 99 on the typing base thus carrying on a typingoperation, as shown in FIG. 3, by impressing Braille dots into the paperwhere the pins 68 and recesses 52 register with each other, andsimultaneously printing the corresponding character on the paper.

A further description now follows on the timing between the typingaction of the type bar 47 and that of the pin 68 retracting into the pinsupport plate 62.

While the type bar 47 continues typing motion from the stationaryposition to the typing base 57, the pin 68 which does not have acorresponding recess 52 on the selected type head 51 recedes graduallyas described. Thus, immediately before the type head 51 collides withthe paper at the typing position, the pin 68 retracts completely intothe pin support plate 62, Therefore, only the pin or pins 68corresponding to the recess or recesses 52 on the type head 51 willremain projecting from the pin support plate 62 and will allow freshBraille dots to be impressed into and appear on the paper 99 withoutleaving misleading striking traces thereon.

FIG. 3 shows the typing operation of marks in which code bars 91a and91d are pushed down. The six middle levers 87 which have been pusheddown by operation of the code bars 91 may vary in depth or degree ofrotation from one another. The degree of rotation is made progressivelygreater in sequence in the order of the middle levers 87f, 87e, 87d,87c, 87b, 87a. In accordance with this arrangement, the tension of thetransmis sion springs 90 varies with the position of the respectivemiddle levers 87. Therefore the resiliency of the transmission springs90 controls the drawing of each L-shaped lever 82 to a considerableextent. Further the arm of each L-shaped lever 82 to which thecorresponding transmission spring 90 is fixed varies in length from theshafts 83 and 84 and the transmission springs 90 with increasinglygreater tension are fixed on a much longer arm in the above order ofsequence, whereby the angle of revolution of each L-shaped lever 82remains nearly constant and operation of each pin 68 is uniform.

The carriage 96 moves in one step by operation of the escapementmechanism after the Braille dots have been typed on the correspondingportion of the paper 99, whereby the typing operation is accomplishedand all mechanisms return to the stationary position from theoperational position of FIG. 3. This operation is the same as inordinary typewriters.

In this return operation, the engaging hook 40 separated from snatchroll 23 is revolved at once in the counter-clockwise direction of FIG. 3by action of spring 44. The type bar 47, after striking the typing base57 is returned to the position of FIG. 2 by the spring 54 of bell crank36, While the operating member 41 revolves about the fulcrum 42 in thecounterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 3, and releases the code bar91 which it had pushed down. Consequently, code bar 91 and the middlelever 87 rise together under action of the spring 89 and return to therest position as shown in FIG. 2. As the middle lever 87 which haspushed down returns to the stationary position, all the transmissionmechanism including the middle lever 87 to the pin operating lever 72comes to the rest position as shown in FIG. 2. Accordingly, the pin 68retracted into the pin support plate 62 is pushed outwardly and held inthe position projecting from the pin support plate 62 by thecorresponding pin operating lever 72.

Thus, one cycle of typing operation is accomplished by pushing key 26 atone time and by repetition of this operation it is possible to typeBraille dots on the paper 99. The above description is concerned merelywith the operation by means of one key only; however, the same willapply in case of operation of any key in use as will easily beunderstood. As had already been described, one may type only Brailledots, without letters, whereupon he may displace the rubber plate 69 outof the typing position.

With such construction as described above, the typewriter, in accordanceto this invention, makes it possible to obtain finer Braille dotswithout leaving pin traces on the paper, which is quite comfortable forreading by blind persons, and presents no problem of misunderstandingthe typed Braille dots.

In addition, by providing a construction enabling simultaneous typing ofletters, figures, or marks equivalent to the Braille dots as shown inthe embodiment, comm-unication between a blind person and a blind ornon-blind person, or from a non-blind to a blind person may be madeeasier and more convenient for the non-blind, who lack the knowledge ofthe Braille dots alphabet, etc., and it is very simple for them to learnsuch alphabet, etc.

Furthermore, the rubber plate according to this embodiment can beconstructed so as to be movable to the typing position of letters andalso to a position out of the typing position whereby only Braille dotswill be typed by simple operation of displacement of the rubber plateout of the typing position, and many other effects may also be obtained.

I claim:

1. A typewriter for impressing Braille dots on a medium comprising, abase, a plurality of key members connected in rows on said base, aplurality of corresponding type head portions, one or more recesses ineach type head portion corresponding to Braille dot characters, a typingbase at the typing impact position of said type head portons stationarywith respect to said base, carriage means connected on said base foradvancing the medium in front of said typing impact position, saidtyping base having a portion extending longitudinally beyond one end ofthe carriage means, first transmission means connected between saidplurality of key members and said plurality of type head portionswhereby upon actuation of a selected key member said first transmissionmeans moves said coresponding type head portion into impact against saidtyping base at the typing impact position, a plurality of pin elementsmovably connected in said typing base at the typing impact position formovement from normally extended positions projecting from said typingbase to positions retracted into said typing base and positioned toregister with said recesses in said type head portions at the typingimpact position, and second transmission means connected between saidfirst transmission means and the rear of said plurality of pin elementsbiasing said pin elements to normally extended positions, said secondtransmission means operative by said first transmission means tomaintain only said pin elements corresponding to the recesses in aselected head portion in positions projecting from said typing base andsynchronously operative with said key members to retract the other saidpin elements into said typing base before said type head portionregisters the recesses therein with said extended pin elements at thetyping impact position to impress Braille dots into the medium disposedtherebetween, and a portion of said second transmission means extendinglongitudinally of said typing base portion and connected thereto at aposition beyond one end of said carriage means.

2. A typewriter as set forth in claim 1, in which said plurality of pinelements correspond in number and position to the maximum possiblepositions of said recesses on said plurality of type head portions.

3. A typewriter as set forth in claim 1, in which said plurality of pinelements are connected at acute angles to the horizontal in upwardlysloping positions in said typing base, said second transmission meansincluding biasing means operative to move said pin elements upwardly tonormally extending positions projecting from said typing base, and saidbiasing means connected for movement away from said pin elements by saidsecond transmission means, whereby said pin elements not havingcorresponding recesses in a selected head portion move downwardly insaid typing base by force of gravity before said selected head portionimpacts on said typing base.

4. A typewriter as set forth in claim 1, in which said secondtransmission means includes a plurality of code bars controlling theoperation of said plurality of pin elements, and lever means connectedfor operation by said first transmisison means and to impart saidoperation to said code bars.

5. A typewriter as set forth in claim 4, in which the number of saidcode bars corresponds to the number of said pin elements.

6. A typewriter as set forth in claim 3, in which said lever means areconnected transverse of said code bars, said code bars having upperedges adapted to contact and projections therealong.

11 said lever means, and said upper edges having recesses 2,842,2453,032,164 3,253,691 References Cited 3,254,750 UNITED STATES PATENTS 54/1922 Steinkraus 1976.1 542 003 6/1930 Kurowski et a1 1976.1 9/1931Smith 1976.1 6/1954 Frey et a1. 1976.1

12 7/1958 Frey 1976.1 XR 5/1962 Watari 1976.1 5/ 1966 Gollwitzer 1976.26/ 1966 Goldner 1976.1

FOREIGN PATENTS 12/1941 England.

EDGAR S. BURR, Primary Examiner

